New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-09
ExHA LISTING DR0UTH ~ TIE NORTHWEST
AN AREA OF MANY THOUSANDS OF SQUARE MILES
ALMOST WITHOrT WATEN-

AN AREA OF MANY THOUSANDS or NV'NhH ''''@'
ALMOST WITHOUT wATER
Chicago, Aug. Sin summing up detailed re-
mort of the great drouth in the Northwest after
noon paper TO-DAY says: " TIE first intima,ion OF
severe drouth came from Michigan In no part oi
that State. however, did the mplant come iron any
single area covering more than one county Farmers
and villagers reported that their vegetables we're
suffering but ten niles distant there would he reports
of abunda ant rains. About three weeks ago serious
damage was reported from certain parts in Michigan
and in some counties potatoes were declared TO Do
n failure Next came reports OF distress III Indiana,
then from Wisconsin and at the present time there
is scarcely county between tho lakes ana the Mssis
sippi in winch rain is not prayed tor.
Another paper saws: " There IA an area OF perhaps
10 600 square miles in the Northwest where tn, dust
lies deep upon tie earth The district 10 bounded by
Madison on the north Bloomington on the south,
Lake Michigan OH the east and the Mississippi RIVER
ON the west It Is within these boundarc, that ye1e-
tation has lost ITS normal color and the earth its
moisture. Leaves are falling IRON the trees, the
grass in the meadows HIS grown yellow and ~hite'
ana the in which the cattle use to slake their
thirst are as dry powerhorns. IL has been nearly
ten weeks since n soaking rain tell in this district.
Ths big ball thiste-the pest OF ne irly every iarm-
has at last succnmbcd 10 the tate of all other vegca
ton In Southeru Wisconsin there are thousands OF
acres where corn will not yield peek to tho acre
Wells have dry, and Ia some towns water
tamines are imminent. The drinking water at haud
il often polluted AMI filed with poisonous germs
ryphoid fever is becoming prevalent, and dysentery
and other stomach Disturbances are so common IN
some places as TO be almost epidemic. Unless ram
falls briore many days the suffering VIII be greatly
augmented. The intense. heat h been terrihc
strain upon man. but its effect upon cattle has been
similv APPALLING. Without pasturage to browse upon
or pools in which to stand during the hot honrs oil
the day. the poor beasts have become 80 eTaciaed "a
TO be wholly unmarketablc Ilundreds OF COWS are
kill ed and shipped To market Tor mere rittance
Added to all the miserirs attending the great
dronth ia the constant fear of fire. The tall grass OF
the rares ia dead tbs fields are ready to bdSt into
flame and leaves le in heaps in the orests A
snark starts a fire and the bisterng Wind ian, the
same la some towns the people are often called out
three and tour times day TO tight the hames. De
structve fires have been raging for many days IN
Keno.ha Racine aud WawOrth Counties In Wiscon-
sin Thousands OF acres have been swept bv the
flames and the loss TO farmers IN hay, grain cncng
aud buildings Is great. Above Madison lee oog' are
burning fercely and the pungent smoke hangs over
the country Tor miles around The Northern ILLINOIS
fires are that the farmers have plou!hed
| the ground about their buildings IN order to cheek
| the spread of the flames.